Cody Weightman has booted six objectives to steer the Western Bulldogs to a 48-point conquer Gold Coast for his or her first win of the AFL season.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge wished a response to his fees’ spherical one capitulation to Melbourne – and he received it, as a nine-goal first quarter paved the best way for a 18.7 (115) to 10.7 (67) victory.
The Bulldogs withstood a number of fees from the Suns to sentence them to their first defeat below Damien Hardwick.
Small ahead Weightman was magnificent at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium, booting 4 first-quarter majors to set the tone, then occurring to equal his career-best haul.
Skipper Marcus Bontempelli (31 disposals, 10 clearances and two objectives) and Adam Treloar (27 touches) have been usually prolific whereas Tom Liberatore had an entertaining battle with Matt Rowell.
Ed Richards was wonderful off half-back however needed to depart the fray with concussion after being collected excessive by David Swallow early within the closing quarter, with the Solar prone to come below match evaluation officer scrutiny.
Recalled younger gun Sam Darcy (two objectives) additionally impressed.
The Bulldogs’ win was additionally soured by a first-quarter proper shoulder harm to defender Nick Coffield – although his alternative Oskar Baker stepped as much as kick three objectives, together with a beautiful snap from the boundary.
Noah Anderson (24 touches) and Touk Miller (30 touches) have been busy for the Suns whereas Sam Collins marshalled their defence and Ben King booted two objectives.
Suns younger gun Bailey Humphrey was a late withdrawal with a shoulder harm suffered in coaching and is awaiting scans to find out the timeline on his return.
Gold Coast have been already with out co-captain Jarrod Witts (groin).
With the breeze at their backs, the Bulldogs have been red-hot, booting the primary three objectives.
Weightman kicked the opener, then took an enormous hanger and transformed the Bulldogs’ second from the next centre bounce.
Bontempelli goaled from lengthy vary on the siren to ship a 41-point lead on the first change.
Gold Coast decreased the deficit to twenty-eight factors at half-time, with Weightman’s crumbed fifth purpose the Bulldogs’ solely main for the second time period.
In a see-sawing third quarter, the Bulldogs booted 4 objectives in a row to stretch their result in 46 factors.
However Gold Coast booted the ultimate three of the time period, with two through Nick Holman, to chop the three-quarter time margin to twenty-eight and stay in touching distance.
However early within the fourth, Weightman snapped his sixth to regular the Bulldogs earlier than Bontempelli kicked the sealer.
The Bulldogs (1-1) return to Marvel Stadium to host battling West Coast subsequent Sunday whereas Gold Coast (2-1) have the bye.
